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2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
The top 15 money-winners in each event qualified, including these Utahns:
Caleb Bennett
Event • Bareback
Residence • Morgan
2012 ranking • 9th ($73,218)
Previous NFR appearances • 0
Career highlights • Finished 17th in the world as a rookie in 2008. ... No better than 30th during the next three seasons. ... Won this year at Santa Maria (Calif.), Cedar City, Vernal, Logan and Salt Lake City (Days of '47 Rodeo). ... National high school champion in 2007.
Tag Elliott
Event • Bull riding
Residence • Thatcher
2012 ranking • 15th ($63,912)
Previous NFR appearances • 0
Career highlights • Missed second pro season because of injuries (2008). ... Finished 28th in the world in 2010. ... Won this year at Spanish Fork and Loveland (Colo.). ... Won Extreme Bulls Division 2 at Austin (Texas) and Pocatello. ... State high school champion in 2006.
Kaycee Feild
Event • Bareback
Residence • Payson
2012 ranking • 1st ($141,639)
Previous NFR appearances • 4
Career highlights • Defending world champion. ... Won six rounds and $179,327 at the 2011 National Finals Rodeo. ... Biggest wins this season at Caldwell (Idaho), Reno, Fort Worth, and the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha. ... Won the College National Finals in 2008.
Tom Lewis
Event • Steer wrestling
Residence • Lehi
2012 ranking • 14th ($48,014)
Previous NFR appearances • 0
Career highlights • Wilderness Circuit champion in 2009 and 2011. ... Finished 41st in the world last season. ... Scored wins this year at Salinas (Calif.), Hayward (Calif.) and Cedar City. ... Former Utah state high school qualifier in steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping.
Clint Robinson
Event • Tie-down roping
Residence • Spanish Fork
2012 ranking • 5th ($94,934)
Previous NFR appearances • 3
Career highlights • Also accomplished in steer wrestling. ... Placed in five rounds in the 2009 National Finals, ending up fourth in the world. ... Finished seventh in 2006 and 10th in 2008. ... All-Around Rookie of the Year in 2003. ... Biggest win this year at San Juan Capistrano (Calif.)
Kelli Tolbert
Event • Barrel racing
Residence • Hooper
2012 ranking • 11th ($63,681)
Previous NFR appearances • 1
Career highlights • Qualified for her second National Finals Rodeo in the last three years. ... Wilderness Circuit Rookie of the Year in 2009. ... Won the second round and placed in five others at the 2010 National Finals, when she finished seventh in the world with earnings of $132,240.
Cody Wright
Event • Saddle bronc
Residence • Milford
2012 ranking • 5th ($82,339)
Previous NFR appearances • 9
Career highlights • World champion in 2008 and 2010. ... Captured one round and placed in five others at the 2011 National Finals to end up fourth in the world. ... Five other top-six finishes, going back to 2003. ... Won his year at Lewiston (Idaho), Prescott (Ariz.) and Odessa.
Jake Wright
Event • Saddle bronc
Residence • Milford
2012 ranking • 8th ($74,583)
Previous NFR appearances • 0
Career highlights • Finished 16th in the world last year. ... Missed qualifying for the National Finals by $85. ... Secured first NFR berth this season by winning at Redding (Calif.), Window Rock (Ariz.), Loveland (Colo.), Evanston (Wyo.), and Casper. ... National high school champion in 2007.
Jesse Wright
Event • Saddle bronc
Residence • Milford
2012 ranking • 1st ($133,098)
Previous NFR appearances • 2
Career highlights • Rookie of the Year in 2009, when he finished 19th in the world standings. ... Fifth in in the world in 2010. ... Second last year after winning four rounds and earning $241,274 at the National Finals Rodeo. ... Won this year at Clovis (N.M.), Ellensburg (Wash.) and Omaha.